The Portland daily press., 1887-10-28
Church Work In the South.

Your committee into whose hands has been
placed the report of the church work in the South
desire to state their impressions by calling atten
tion to three or four important points
First, to the marked increase in the membership
OF the Sunday-schools,-an increase during the
year OF 1000 pupils or 10 per cent, bring the pres
ent membership up to 15,109.
Comparing this with the entire enrolment in
1882 we find that during the five years there has
been a growth of 90 per cent
This is specially gratifying because it is under
stood that Sunday-schools or missions started at
new stations look to the speedy establishment of
churches at those stations; while photographed
schools in churches already established result in
the careful study of Gods word with constant
application Of inspired doctrine to practical lfe
looking both to the permanence OF the churches
and the personal purity of their members
Another important item noticed in the report
appears in the statement touching the amount Of
money which these churches have given.
Beside the $4,000 contributed for their own
religious work 81, 800 have been devoted to pure
benevolence. II this should seem a small sum as
contribution of ~ churches it must be remem-
bered that II is the gift of poverty and not of
wealth. Thef free will offerings of almost any one Of
tributions of not a few New England churches
suggest the words OF the Master: "She hath cast
| In more than they ALL"
Their spirit of sacrifice has often won for the
| colored people hearty commentator. To those
| of us who live amid multiplied temporal and spir-
itual privileges and who easily lose sight Of the
| goodly heritage for which we are to give an ac-
count it is spur, if not an inspiration to read the
story OF the sacrifices which some OF the brethren
make in the giving of their scant substance for the
| more destitute members of the human family.
Their offerings for pure beneyolence were above
| 5000 more than the previous year and are double
what they were four years ago.
Your committee are glad to find that this feature
| Of denominationa work is strongly emphasized by
the executive board and that these churches poor
though they be, are taught that giUing well as
receiUing is necessary factor in their growth and
that in true worship aims as well as prayers rise
a a mamoflal
Another noticeable item in the report is the
building OF meeting-houses. Indeed the report
as one Of building activity" Every church that
is to become permanent must have its house dedi-
Gated to COD. The sanctuary helps to hold the
people together, and attach them TO forms Of wor-
ship that demand reverential attitude. Perhaps
no people have greater need than our colored
brethren of those religious forms and ceremonies
which secure quiet and order In the public dev0-
tons OF the assembled multitudes.
We therefore rejoice in every new meeting
house that this society helps the struggling
churches Of the South to build
Another item in the report to which we call
attention is the organization OF seven new
churches during the year, about the average num-
ber if you take a series of dozen or more yeaIs
but not the average, If you take simply the last
five years.
Since 1882 the average rate of increase has been
eleven per year.
1t would Undoubtedly be Joy to us all if the
rate Of increase could be more rapid. We must
not, however, forget that we are at work "among
a people who have no congregational trend or
training" It Is undoubtedly wise to proceed with
only where they will give promise of permanence.
After all the caution that has been exercised it
has been necessary recently to drop four or five
from the list. The aim should be at stability and
worth rather than numbers. A single church or
ganized on the right basis, watched over with
painstaking care, so that her members shall adorn
the doctrines they profess will do more for the
prosperity OF Congregationalism IN this part OF
ly organized and unsuitably located We think
the ofncers OF this society have been wise in their